The Importance of Safe Driving

Getting behind the wheel is one of the most thrilling yet terrifying things you will ever do in life. The rush of pressing the accelerator and hearing the car purrr around you gives some people a sense of excitement. Others tense up and get anxious when the car starts, maybe because of a traumatic experience when driving. These emotions can be overwhelming to certain people and affect their driving. The exhilaration of driving can cause someone to press the accelerator too much or someone’s traumas can cloud their mind behind the wheel causing them to not pay attention to the vehicles around them. When on the road not only do you have to pay attention to your driving but also your surroundings because you never know how someone is feeling or what someone is doing in their vehicles.

The one thing I did not look forward to on the way to getting my license was the required eight hour safety driving course. In my mind I was constantly wondering what about driving took eight hours to understand and go over? That class is longer than my average school day which is 7 hours. It wasn’t until I was physically in my seat listening to the personal stories and accidents that had changed people’s lives that I finally understood how important safe driving truly is. The majority of people who were in the class were teenagers who looked just as enthusiastic as I was about the class. However, mid way during the session they were just as intrigued and emotional as I was hearing the devastating car accidents and fatalities that took place just in our state alone. With hearing the traumatic stories the students in the class were prone to listen to different ways we could be safe drivers and try to prevent more tragic accidents from taking place in the future. Also driving class brought attention to different things that do affect our driving that we wouldn’t consider before. The main things that we are told that happen and cause bad accidents are “texting and driving” and “drinking and driving.“ Many people don’t think about the impact of having their peers in the car or talking on the phone while driving. Those are two examples that can cause you to not be as focused on the road and partake in unsafe driving. The course was indeed long but completely necessary and worth it. I don’t believe I would be as cautious about driving as I am now without it. I strongly believe that everyone seeking to get a license should be required to take a safe driving course. This would be a big step in reducing the amount of deaths because everyone behind the wheel legally is presented with information and facts that could be a wake up call to take driving more seriously. This class could be the reason someone thinks twice before picking up their phone and texting or drinking alcohol at a party and driving. This big step could be saving many lives in the future.

While you may not drive responsibility there are many others around you who do. Many people who are safe drivers have most likely done an unsafe thing while on the road. Whether that’s cutting someone off so you don’t miss your turn or running a red light so you don’t have to sit there through the light. These may seem like little things but are unsafe and can cause accidents that end up hurting someone badly or killing them. Laws are put into place for a reason, that reason is to keep everyone safe. Not abiding by the law results in unsafe doings. Unfortunately, I have witnessed unsafe driving from both of my aunts. Sometimes they are unsafe drivers and I constantly remind them that what they are doing is dangerous. One aunt speeds all the time and the other aunt texts while driving with her knees. Both things are unsafe and I am blessed they haven’t caused an accident but I still pray that they quit their bad habits and think of not only potentially injuring themselves but the other people around them.

I believe that for me to become a better driver on the road I need to be more patient with others on the road. I always go the speed limit and get frustrated when others don’t. I realize that not everyone is as comfortable driving as I am or they simply prefer to go slower. I can also continue to encourage my peers and family members to practice safe driving and to correct them when they aren’t being safe behind the wheel. Confronting people on their unsafe habits can help you prevent a car wreck and also help save a life. Always speak up when you see something that’s not safe. It can have a bigger impact than you believe.